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Mrs. Dickens Class Celebrates 100th Day
Mrs. Dickens class celebrated the 100th Day with songs and activities. This was also only the fifth day that all of her students were in attendance out of the 100 days.
•February 2, 2022•
By Sharon Barricklow
Correspondent
The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced their spring schedule of building and placing fish habitats for the 2022 fishing season.
Events will kick off on February 12 with a “cube build” at the Corps Shelbyville Maintenance Buildings. Volunteers use PVC pipe and drainage tubes to construct structures that can be placed in shallow water around the lake. Read More
•February 2, 2022•
By Ariana Cherry
NP Writer
The principals from the ALAH District were allowed to skip the most recent meeting of the school board held on Wednesday, January 19. “I appreciate the board’s understanding about giving our administrators an excuse for the evening. They have been really busy lately,” commented Superintendent Shannon Cheek. Recently, the district has been responsible for having to do their own contact tracing with COVID-19 cases since the health department is no longer doing them, and after returning from Christmas break, the schools experienced a surge in cases. Many of the district’s teachers, principals and other staff have been finding themselves doing multiple duties throughout the day as there have been absences either because of positive COVID-19 cases, quarantines, or other seasonal illnesses.
During the Treasurer’s Report, Cheek informed the board that nothing has changed concerning transportation funds. “One payment was received from last fiscal year, one from this year and one is in the queue. It could be in that queue for a long time. Nothing new on that front,” he said. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present ‘Invisible’, an original play, on Friday, February 4 at 5:30 pm at the Little Theater on the Square.
•February 2, 2022•
Sullivan High School’s Mirror Images will present Invisible, an original play, on Friday, February 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the Little Theater on the Square.
The show, written by members of the prevention theater group and director Krista Houk, is about a high school student who goes missing and the search to find them.
Houk explained, “Students work together to find a missing classmate. They learn it’s safe to share their secrets with each other.”
She added that the basic message of the play is that “it’s okay to rely on others and to reach out if you need help.”
The show centers on Joan Doe, a quiet student who goes missing; Addison a chess and Dungeons and Dragons player who is accused of causing Joan to run away; Charlie, Addison’s sister who doesn’t go after her own passions to make her parents happy; and Tony the Detective Janitor who feels it’s his responsibility to find Joan and bring them home. Sullivan High School’s principal Mr. Daniel Allen will also appear as the principal of the show’s school. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan vs. Clinton
The Sullivan Varsity Redskins lost a home game versus Clinton by a score of 56-44. Sullivan is 1-17 overall.
Photo courtesy of Tom Vance
The east side of the Miller barn which was built in 1879. There are plans to disassemble the barn starting Monday, January 31. The barn will be raised in the fall on the site of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.
•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A local barn will be disassembled, moved to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center and reassembled later in the year. The Miller barn, built in 1879, is in its original condition including the threshing floor and grain bins; however, there is a concrete floor which was put in the south end of the barn in 1954.
The barn will be moved, fully repaired and restored. The plan is to start disassembling the barn Monday, January 31 and to have it down in four to five days. Read More
•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The City Council authorized the issuance of water works and sewerage system revenue bonds of the city of Sullivan. The estimated cost of the project including legal fees and other costs of issuance of the bonds is $10,500,000.
Mike Kirk had questions about the bonds that were to be issued for water works and sewerage system bonds. Treasurer Sarah Golden explained that the payback time is 40 years. Kirk asked Commissioner Chuck Woodworth whether it would be possible to spend money to get the water plant to run for another 20 years. “It would be more in the long run to retrofit what we already have compared to building a new one,” he said. Woodworth said he originally was looking at taking what they have and upgrading it, but it would be more money to do that than build new.
Abbey Sherwood reminded everyone there is public swim at the Civic Center Thursday to Sunday. She and Golden had conversations in regard to TIF and TIF reimbursements. Sherwood added that she had talked with several people in regard to the IBEW contract. Read More
Photo by Crystal Reed
Rick Davis donates blood during a blood drive at the Sullivan American Legion on Tuesday, January 18.
•January 26, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis -- its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. The American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood which includes many local hospital partners. The organization has experienced a 10% decline nationally and locally in the number of people donating blood since the pandemic began and continues to confront relentless issues due to COVID-19, such as ongoing blood drive cancellations and staffing limitations.
According to a press release, in recent weeks the organization had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types and has had to limit blood product distributions to hospitals. At this time, as much as one-quarter of hospital blood needs are not being met. The low blood supply levels are also posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available.
An American Red Cross Blood Drive was held Tuesday, January 18, at Sullivan American Legion. According to event coordinator Jeri Davis, a total of 45 units was collected during the drive. This can help 135 patients. The Red Cross has also seen a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges since the pandemic began. As a result, Gen Z, which accounted for nearly one-quarter of donors in 2019, made up just about 10% in 2021 due to the drop in on-campus opportunities. Read More
•January 19, 2022•
by Crystal Reed
NP Writer
A residential and retail development has broken ground on the east side of Route 32 near the Red Apple. The whole development is 17 acres and will be a mix of multi-family and commercial or light industrial properties. Five acres will be multi-family rentals and 12 acres will be marketed for development.
The first phase of the development will be called Reserve Sullivan. This is two eight-unit high quality rental properties that will be two and three-bedroom. There are also plans for a three-unit commercial building which Tabeling Development will be breaking ground on next month. Read More
Photo by R.R. Best
Sullivan Cheer Camp
The Sullivan High School basketball cheerleaders held a Redskins-In-Training youth cheer camp last week for Sullivan Elementary School students. The Redskins-in-training learned cheers that they performed at the beginning of the varsity basketball game on Friday. All proceeds from camp will support new uniforms for SHS basketball cheer.